David Miliband wins backing of London big hitters

Friendly city: David Miliband has the backing of more than half of town hall chiefs

David Miliband's bid to become Labour leader was boosted today when the party's London council chiefs and Assembly members backed his campaign.

More than half of town hall leaders and five of eight London Assembly members said the former foreign secretary was the best choice for the capital. In an open letter, they said that Mr Miliband had "a record of turning aspirations into reality, values into victories".

"David is the candidate most likely to beat the Tories and Liberals in London and the South as he is the public's choice to lead the Labour Party," the council chiefs said.

Among the signatories were Len Duvall, leader of the GLA Labour Group and chair of the London Labour Party, Lambeth Council leader Steve Reed and Steve Bullock, executive mayor of Lewisham.